Counselling Accreditation UK: What Accreditation Involves
Every year in the UK, thousands of people search for an accredited counsellor. Accrediting bodies ensure that therapists and counsellors have completed a certain level of professional training and practice hours. Individuals can search for providers who have accreditation from a recognized professional body or a national counselling society in the UK. Therapists can demonstrate their competence by applying for membership with a professional standards authority, which may promote their personal practice more effectively. Here, we’ll discuss counselling accreditation in the UK and how counsellors and therapists can become accredited.
Accreditation through BACP
The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is a professional association that provides professional standards accreditation for counsellors and psychotherapists across the UK. To obtain accredited membership, counsellors and therapists typically have to meet a number of criteria. Primarily, they must have completed a BACP-accredited course or other counsellor training program involving:
- Skills, theory, personal development, and professional challenges
- A minimum of 450 tutor contact hours over the course of one year for full-time students or over the course of two years for part-time students
- A supervised placement
- A competence assessment after training
Counselling accreditation UK: BACP accredited membership
First, counsellors in training can become registered members of the BACP by completing 300 to 400 hours of theory and 100 hours of clinical training. (Note that BACP courses provide theoretical training. Students are responsible for then pursuing a clinical placement to meet the requisite number of training hours.)
To pursue accredited membership, counsellors in training must complete a total of 450 hours of theory and 450 hours of clinical training over the course of three to six years. Of those, 150 hours must be from the post-qualifying segment of the training. After obtaining the three-year diploma, students can apply for accredited membership.
Senior accreditation for counsellors
Counsellors can obtain a senior accredited membership of individual accreditation with the BACP by completing year two of the advanced diploma program. This involves a total of 500 hours of theory and 450 hours of clinical training, including supervised practice. Counsellors must continue to maintain professional standards during each year of their accreditation membership.
Applying for BACP accreditation
Once candidates have completed all the membership requirements for accreditation, they can fill out an application form. Candidates typically have to explain their current method of practice and submit a statement from a supervisor along with case material from their practice. The cost of submitting an application for consideration is approximately £230, but financial assistance may be available in some cases.
Benefits of BACP accreditation
Accreditation can benefit both counsellors and their clients. The following are some potential benefits of accreditation:
- Counsellors can display their certificate of accreditation and use the credential “MBACP (Accred)” next to their name.
- Therapists and counsellors can use a personalized logo to advertise their practice.
- Prospective clients know that an accredited therapist has undergone theoretical education and has at least 450 hours of clinical training.
Continuing requirements of the BACP accreditation
Registered members of the BACP are required to engage in BACP trainings on a regular basis. Generally, members are expected to complete 30 hours of continuing professional development per year.
How professional counsellors can receive support
Caring for the mental health needs of others can sometimes affect a counsellor’s own emotional well-being. For this reason, many professional counsellors and therapists seek regular mental health support themselves. Professionals in this field may find that this type of care can help them remain balanced so they can provide support to their clients while maintaining their own mental health.
Where to find an accredited counsellor online
Many accredited professional counsellors have busy schedules, which can make it hard to commute to and from in-person therapy appointments. For professionals who are seeking convenient, flexible mental health support, online therapy could be worth exploring. Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp allow individuals to find a therapist anywhere in the UK, and they can engage in therapy sessions via audio, video, or live chat at times that suit their schedule.
Over the last decade, numerous researchers have studied online therapy extensively, and findings generally suggest that it can be effective for treating a number of mental illnesses and emotional challenges. For example, results of a 2021 review on the topic suggest that “almost all reviews and meta-analyses found that these [Internet-based therapy] interventions successfully reduce symptoms and are efficacious treatment.”
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
What's BACP vs. UKCP counselling accreditation?
Both BACP and the UKCP offer accreditation for mental health therapists. BACP may work more with professional counsellors, while the UKCP may work more with psychotherapists. That said, accredited members of both organizations typically have numerous years of theoretical and clinical training.
There tends to be significant overlap between counsellors and psychotherapists, and many use the terms interchangeably. Both types of professionals may practice behavioural and cognitive psychotherapies. However, some psychotherapists may be more likely to practice certain modalities, like psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy, than counsellors as part of a longer-term, broader treatment plan. Counsellors may treat more immediate concerns than psychotherapists on a shorter-term basis.
What's the accreditation training for UKCP counselling accreditation UK?
There are 10 UKCP membership colleges that represent various therapeutic modalities. Each of the accrediting and training organizations corresponds to one of the 10 colleges based on modality, training, and professional practice setting. The UKCP states that most of the training institutions provide full psychotherapy training beginning at the postgraduate level (level 7 on the standard qualification scale in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). These training programs typically take four to six years to complete (four years of theory and two more to complete the practice hours).
How do you become an accredited counsellor in the UK?
According to the National Careers Service, individuals can begin training by pursuing a level 3 or 4 diploma before obtaining a degree in postgraduate psychotherapy. It’s typically best to seek a post-graduate training program approved by any of the following:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
- UK Council for Psychotherapy
- British Psychoanalytic Council
- Association of Child Psychotherapists (APC)
Training requirements may differ for various professional memberships.
How can I find an accredited UK counsellor?
To find a counsellor registered with an accredited service in the UK, you might search the BACP directory. Also, you can search for accredited therapists via an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, which partners with thousands of accredited and experienced therapists in the UK.
What is the best counselling accreditation?
The best accreditation for counseling may depend on what you’re looking for from an accreditation service and what type of counselor you are practicing as. For example, if you practice psychoanalytic therapy, you might work with the British Psychoanalytic Council. The most popular option is BACP, but many accreditation services exist, so research each before you choose one.
To qualify as a counselor in the UK, providers often finish an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling. After receiving their degree, some providers may take graduate classes or get a doctorate. Others may be able to qualify with only a bachelor’s degree. In general, this process takes around four to six years in total.
There is no official minimum requirement to be a counselor in the UK. However, professional training is required, and counselors must become qualified with an accreditation organization. Accredited counseling courses typically only accept students who have completed an undergraduate degree.
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